Work it out: Fiona Livingston

In our weekly series, Jo Glynn-Smith meets working women to discuss the secrets to their success

Every week, Jo Glynn-Smith interviews a successful woman to find out how she made it to the top, and gets tips on maintaining a successful work-life balance. This week she meets Fiona Livingston.

Describe your job
"Studiofibre is a dynamic Architecture & Design studio that creates architectural interiors projects globally for leading brands including Net-A-Porter, Farfetch, The White Company, Dunhill and notonthehighstreet.com. My role is Creative Director, presenting the client with creative concepts that meet their brief and budget."

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

Detail your career path
"I got an Art History degree and started my career in Creative Marketing. I was so inspired by the wealth of artistic diversity I encountered, and developed an analytical approach to design. I then moved into the world of commercial interior design as a fully rounded creative."

What is the most rewarding aspect of what you do?
"I’m fascinated by how companies operate and grow and relish the opportunity of helping them create an environment where they can flourish. I never get tired of the challenge of taking a blank canvas and creating a design narrative that communicates their brand’s unique values, heritage and vision of the future."

Most Popular

What's the one piece of business advice you would pass on?
"I believe passionately in working hard to become the best at what you do. It's so important to enjoy it, put your heart and soul into it and pass on the positives to the team around you."

One piece of advice you ignored?
"Be careful and don't take risks. If I hadn’t taken some calculated risks, I would never have achieved what I have."

Do you have a mentor or someone who inspired you?
"A 'stand-out' influence for me would be Natalie Massenet, who I met 8 years ago when designing her offices for a then 100 person strong company. Natalie is incredibly inspirational, she has very clear vision and is very open and passionate about passing her vision on."

Describe your work style
"When working in the studio I keep it low key and tend to opt for jeans and converse - it has to be practical as we have a boxer dog in the studio who needs walking. For client meetings I go for skirts or cropped trousers. I’m a big fan of an Equipment crisp white shirt paired with something unusual like a Zadig & Voltaire skirt or Rag & Bone Trousers. Accessories are important, I like to wear multiple bracelets and my signature sparkly Zadig & Voltaire gun necklace."

...form of exercise?
"I adore hip hop dancing and also do boxing and pilates at Pilates on the Green in the Chiltern Hills where I live in Buckinghamshire. Racing around after two highly energetic children is also pretty good exercise!"

...way to relax?
"My idea of relaxation is time with my family in the Buckinghamshire countryside, with good food and a chilled glass of crisp white wine."

...beauty treatment?
"Even though I live outside of London now, I still head to my old stomping ground Notting Hill to have my hair done."

...beauty product?
"We went on a couple of family holidays to Menorca when the children were young and stayed in a villa where the owner Victoria Moore introduced me to her wonderful range of natural products. The shampoo and conditioner are amazing and smell divine, I’ve used them ever since!"

...tech product?
"My iphone. It's so easy to stay connected when I'm away - although sometimes it might be better not to be!"

...restaurant?
"My husband took me to Julie’s in Holland Park on our first date and we still go back now to celebrate anniversaries and special occasions."

...service you can't live without?
"We have a lovely couple who used to look after our children pre-school age and now they have two very young children of their own. They help us to clean the house and maintain the garden and also still help with our children in the school holidays."

Sign up to the bazaar newsletters now:

Please tick here if you would like to opt out of the Harper’s Bazaar Beauty Bulletin Newsletter.
Hearst: We will also let you know about discounts and great offers from us, tick this box if you'd rather not know about these.
Hearst Partners: would like to let you know about some of their fantastic discounts, special offers, and promotions. We promise you wont be bombarded. Tick here if you would like to receive these.